Cells are constantly exposed to factors like ultraviolet rays, toxins, and chemicals that damage DNA. For women, this damage can negatively impact egg quality, leading to infertility, miscarriage, birth defects, or genetic disorders. However, researchers at the University of Missouri are investigating a process that may offer a solution to this issue: autophagy.
Autophagy is a natural cellular process that serves as the body’s defense mechanism by recycling damaged cellular components, ensuring systems remain functional. While autophagy plays a critical role in maintaining cellular health, recent research led by Dr. Ahmed Balboula, an assistant professor at the College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (CAFNR) and the Roy Blunt NextGen Precision Health building, has revealed that autophagy becomes less efficient in female eggs when DNA damage is moderate to severe—a situation commonly observed in older women.
In a groundbreaking study, Balboula’s team found that boosting autophagy in female eggs could improve egg quality by reducing DNA damage and minimizing the risk of chromosomal abnormalities. This discovery suggests that stimulating autophagy could be a promising method to improve egg quality, which would ultimately enhance reproductive health for both humans and animals.
“The deactivation of autophagy that we observed is likely one of several mechanisms contributing to aneuploidy,” said Balboula. “I plan to continue exploring other factors that influence egg quality to further improve reproductive outcomes.”
Balboula, who joined Mizzou from the University of Cambridge in 2019, chose the university for its strong reputation in reproductive biology research. “The collaborators, resources, and infrastructure here at Mizzou, particularly within CAFNR, the Division of Animal Sciences, and the NextGen Precision Health building, offer invaluable support to take our research further,” he explained.
The findings, published in Nature, suggest that enhancing autophagy in oocytes could significantly reduce DNA damage, paving the way for new avenues in improving reproductive health.
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